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School of Social Welfare

The School of Social Welfare offers a BSW, as well as a MSW, a MSW/JD, and PhD in Social Work, which develops the capacity for caring, to help people in need. The undergraduate program prepares graduates for generalist social work practice with an emphasis on public social services, which looks at the interface between systems - individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Popular Career Paths

Children or Family Services: Involves helping parents and guardians identify services to improve the quality of life for children and families. Can include adoptions, foster care, family preservation, and specialty children services as well as many others.

Health: Involves working as a part of a medical team to help patients cope with chronic or terminal illness and injury. Settings include hospitals, home health agencies, hospice programs, school-based clinics, physician offices, rehabilitation hospitals, addiction recovery programs, and nursing care facilities.

Education and School Social Work: Involves helping to identify, assess,and address the social and emotional difficulties of children that interfere with their attendance,adjustment, and achievement in school.

Public Welfare: Includes providing services, support and advocacy for poor and disadvantaged individuals, including helping with housing, vocational training and job placement, case management, crisis intervention and development of interpersonal and life skills.

Gerontology: Involves providing services and coordinating programs for older adults (healthy or ill) and their families.

Community Development: Involves working with labor unions and grassroots organizations, developing projects and serving as community liaisons with public economic development departments, and working with community reinvestment programs.

Register for HireJayhawks.com and subscribe to the Internship Newsletter to receive automated weekly emails with specific internship information.

Make the most of your field practicum experience and try to gain exposure to a variety of practice settings and clients as possible.

Be aware that most states require licensure, certification or registration to work in the social work field. For more information on licensure, visit the School of Social Welfare website.

Consider pursuing a Master of Social Work degree if you are interested in providing therapy, working in a supervisory or administrative role, or opening your own private practice.

Consider joining professional associations related to your area of interest in social work and, if possible, attend local and/or regional conferences to make connections with professionals working in your field.

Consider getting involved with a student organization at KU related to your area of interest, such as: Bachelor of Social Work Student Group, Masters of Social Work Mutual Aid Society, Association of Black Social Work Students, and International Social Work Student Organization.